Brazilian spotted fever: A reemergent zoonosis

Brazilian spotted fever is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, which is the most pathogenic species of the spotted-fever rickettsiae group and is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. Amblyomma cajennense is the most important tick species involved in the cycle of this zoonosis in Brazil as it presents low host specificity, great number of natural reservoirs and wide geographic distribution. It was first described in the state of São Paulo in 1929 and later in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Bahia. The number of cases decreased in the 1940's with the development of new plague control techniques and antibiotics. In the last decades, the number of new cases has increased. The current review aimed at reporting some of the epidemiological and public health aspects of this reemergent disease with new foci, mainly in the southeastern region of Brazil.

Monitoramento de micro-organismos indicadores de higiene em linha de abate de bovinos de um matadouro-frigorífico habilitado à exportação no oeste do Paraná

Indicators microorganisms can be used as a method for evaluating the sanitary quality of food products, indicating the suitability of conditions for obtaining, processing and storage of food. This study sought to evaluate surface contamination of cattle carcasses that come from a slaughter plant under Federal Inspection in western Parana by mesophilic bacteria (AM), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), coliform at 35 degrees C (TC) and E. coli (EC). Surface samples were collected from 25 carcasses, each at 4 different points of slaughter, for non-destructive method. The samples were diluted in decimal scale and incubated in Petrifilm (R) plates. Were found averages of 1.46; 0.3; 0.23 and 0.21 log CFU / cm (2) for AM, EB, CT and EC, respectively. The values to be found were well below those recommended by the decision 471/2001 of the European Union and several other authors surveyed, indicating the effectiveness of the hygienic process industry.

Effect of the litter material on drinking water quality in broiler production

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

PCR Multiplex fluorescente para detecção de bactérias em sêmen bovino

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o limiar de detecção da técnica de PCR multiplex fluorescente aliada a eletroforese capilar na detecção de agentes infecciosos em amostras de sêmen experimentalmente contaminadas com concentrações decrescentes das bactérias Brucella abortus, Leptospira interrogans sorovar pomona, Campylobacter fetus e Haemophilus somnus. Amostras de sêmen bovino foram experimentalmente contaminadas com concentrações decrescentes de bactérias obtidas através de diluições seriadas na base 10 de modo a obter-se amostras contendo desde 1 vez até 10-7 bactérias/mL a partir da concentração inicial de Leptospira pomona, Brucella abortus, Campylobacter fetus e Haemophilus somnus. As diluições foram efetuadas individualmente para cada bactéria, bem como nas diferentes concentrações necessárias para a padronização do teste de multiplex PCR. As extrações de DNA de todas as soluções contendo espermatozóides e bactérias analisadas no presente estudo foram realizadas segundo protocolo descrito por Heinemann et al. (2000). Os produtos de PCR multiplex foram avaliados por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida 8% e separação eletroforética por sistema capilar em equipamento automático de análise de fragmentos de DNA MegaBace. Observou-se a amplificação de fragmentos de 193pb, 330pb, 400pb e 415pb a partir do DNA de B. abortus, L. pomona, H. somnus, C. fetus, respectivamente. Na análise por eletroforese capilar de produtos da PCR multiplex do DNA para detecção simultânea dos quatro patógenos observou-se a sinal de positividade até a diluição de 10-3 bactérias/mL vezes da concentração inicial da solução estoque de cada bactéria. A técnica de PCR multiplex aliada à eletroforese capilar foi usada pela primeira vez para o diagnóstico direto de quatro bactérias patogênicas no sêmen, demonstrando ser um método rápido na detecção de bactérias causadoras de doenças reprodutivas.

Clinical and microbiological studies of children and adolescents receiving orthodontic treatment

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Atividade antibacteriana de óleos essenciais de plantas frente a linhagens de Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia coli isoladas de casos clínicos humanos

A ação antibacteriana in vitro de óleos essenciais de seis plantas foi verificada por meio da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM=%v/v) pela diluição dos óleos em meio de cultura Mueller Hinton Agar, frente a linhagens de Staphylococcus aureus (n=16) e Escherichia coli (n=16) isoladas de casos clínicos humanos, além de 1 amostra padrão ATCC para cada espécie (Sa ATCC 25923 e Ec ATCC 25922), e determinação de curvas de sobrevivência em concentrações equivalentes a CIM90% dos respectivos óleos. O óleo essencial de canela foi o mais eficiente, com valores de CIM90% de 0,047 e 0,09 para S. aureus e E. coli respectivamente, enquanto gengibre (0,09), cravo da índia (0,095) e capim cidreira (0,1) apresentaram eficiências semelhantes para S. aureus. Frente a E. coli, os óleos de gengibre (0,52) e capim cidreira (0,55) foram equivalentes quanto à eficiência. de acordo com as curvas de sobrevivência, foi possível verificar também que os valores de CIM90% obtidos podem ser tanto bactericidas ou bacteriostáticas de acordo com a bactéria testada. em conclusão, verificou-se que os óleos essenciais testados foram efetivos no controle do desenvolvimento bacteriano, sendo o potencial antimicrobiano diferente em função da espécie bacteriana testada, sendo que a bactéria Gram positiva (S. aureus) mostrou-se mais susceptível aos óleos testados que a Gram negativa (E. coli).

Mucosa-associated but not luminal Escherichia coli is augmented in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Molecular models for shikimate pathway enzymes of Xylella fastidiosa

The Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterium that is the cause of citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC). The shikimate pathway is of pivotal importance for production of a plethora of aromatic compounds in plants, bacteria, and fungi. Putative structural differences in the enzymes from the shikimate pathway, between the proteins of bacterial origin and those of plants, could be used for the development of a drug for the control of CVC. However, inhibitors for shikimate pathway enzymes should have high specificity for X. fastidiosa enzymes, since they are also present in plants. In order to pave the way for structural and functional efforts towards antimicrobial agent development, here we describe the molecular modeling of seven enzymes of the shikimate pathway of X. fastidiosa. The structural models of shikimate pathway enzymes, complexed with inhibitors, strongly indicate that the previously identified inhibitors may also inhibit the X. fastidiosa enzymes. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ZapA, a possible virulence factor from Proteus mirabilis exhibits broad protease substrate specificity

The opportunistic bacterium Proteus mirabilis secretes a metalloprotease, ZapA, considered to be one of its virulence factors due to its IgA-degrading activity. However, the substrate specificity of this enzyme has not yet been fully characterized. In the present study we used fluorescent peptides derived from bioactive peptides and the oxidized ß-chain of insulin to determine the enzyme specificity. The bradykinin- and dynorphin-derived peptides were cleaved at the single bonds Phe-Ser and Phe-Leu, with catalytic efficiencies of 291 and 13 mM/s, respectively. Besides confirming already published cleavage sites, a novel cleavage site was determined for the ß-chain of insulin (Val-Asn). Both the natural and the recombinant enzyme displayed the same broad specificity, demonstrated by the presence of hydrophobic, hydrophilic, charged and uncharged amino acid residues at the scissile bonds. Native IgA, however, was resistant to hydrolysis by ZapA.

Evaluation of solid and submerged fermentations for the production of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase by Paenibacillus campinasensis H69-3 and characterization of crude enzyme

Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) is an enzyme that produces cyclodextrins from starch by an intramolecular transglycosylation reaction. Cyclodextrins have been shown to have a number of applications in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. In the current study, the production of CGTase by Paenibacillus campinasensis strain H69-3 was examined in submerged and solid-state fermentations. P. campinasensis strain H69-3 was isolated from the soil, which grows at 45 C, and is a Gram-variable bacterium. Different substrate sources such as wheat bran, soybean bran, soybean extract, cassava solid residue, cassava starch, corn starch, and other combinations were used in the enzyme production. CGTase activity was highest in submerged fermentations with the greatest production observed at 48-72 h. The physical and chemical properties of CGTase were determined from the crude enzyme produced from submerged fermentations. The optimum temperature was found to be 70-75 degrees C, and the activity was stable at 55 degrees C for 1 h. The enzyme displayed two optimum pH values, 5.5 and 9.0 and was found to be stable between a pH of 4.5 and 11.0.

Distribution of Rickettsia rickettsii in ovary cells of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille1806) (Acari: Ixodidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The antibiotics roseoflavin and 8-demethyl-8-amino-riboflavin from Streptomyces davawensis are metabolized by human flavokinase and human FAD synthetase

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Leaf gas exchange and fruit yield in sweet orange trees as affected by citrus variegated chlorosis and environmental conditions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Subcellular localization of proteins labeled with GFP in Xanthomonas citri ssp citri: targeting the division septum

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estudo da produção de biossurfactante em caldo de fermentação

A bacterium isolated from soil contaminated by hydrocarbon was studied and, by biochemical tests and analysis of PCR, the presence of Bacillus pumilus was identified. The production of biosurfactant was optimized, test of oil degradation and antimicrobial activity determination. The results showed that pH 5.0 and 7.0, 72 h of fermentation, sucrose and sugar cane juice (2%) had best yields. The bacterium is able to degrade crude oil and displays bacteriostatic and fungistatic activity. From the analysis of proximate composition of biosurfactant found the presence of biopolymer formed by a lipopolysaccharide-protein complex.